Arsenal set to launch £10MILLION bid for Dutch defensive star

Van Dijk has starred for the Scottish outfit since his £2.5m move from Gronigen last summer.

And following Celtic's failure to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, Starsport understands the Gunners are now thought to be weighing up a move.

Arsene Wenger is on the lookout for defensive reinforcements after selling Belgian ace Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona earlier this summer.

“Let’s see what happens. The transfer window will be open until Monday night”

Virgil van Dijk

Newcastle, Sunderland and Southampton have also been linked with Van Dijk this summer.

The player seems certain to quit Parkhead after revealing he is considering his future in light of their Champions League exit.

“It is difficult to say if this ­defeat will have an influence on my future,” Van Dijk told the Dutch broadcaster NOS. “I want to play at the highest level.

“We were playing for a place in the Champions League group stages, and sadly we haven’t gone through.

"I am a Celtic player for now, but we will have to see what happens. The Champions League is the highest level, and now we have gone into the Europa League. It is still European football, but on a somewhat lower level.

"Let’s see what happens. The transfer window will be open until Monday night.”